Baking · serves 2

White Sandwich Loaf

The first bread to learn. Once you can make this, everything else follows.

180 min Some work Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 4 cups bread flour or maida
  • 2 tsp instant yeast
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1.5 cups warm milk or water
  • 3 tbsp soft butter

Method

  1. Warm liquid means warm to your wrist, not hot. Hot liquid kills the yeast and nothing will rise.
  2. Mix everything except the butter into a shaggy dough, rest 10 minutes, then add butter and knead 10 minutes until smooth and stretchy.
  3. The test: stretch a piece thin enough to see light through it without tearing. If it tears, keep kneading.
  4. Rise 1-1.5 hours until doubled.
  5. Knock back, shape into a tight log, into a greased loaf tin. Second rise 45 minutes until it domes just above the rim.
  6. 200°C for 30-35 minutes. It should sound hollow when tapped underneath. Cool completely on a rack before slicing.

Questions people ask about White Sandwich Loaf

How long does White Sandwich Loaf take?

About 180 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of maida in White Sandwich Loaf?

Use plain atta for a denser, nuttier result, or a 50/50 mix if you want to keep some lift.

Can I make White Sandwich Loaf ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is White Sandwich Loaf vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for White Sandwich Loaf?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with White Sandwich Loaf?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

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